Fastener for placement on a flexible tension element without passing an end of the tension element therethrough

ABSTRACT

A fastener provides first and second rings interconnected by a neck. The neck has a size such that the lateral portions of both rings extend laterally spacedly beyond the neck. At least one ring defines an orifice of sufficient size to allow passage of two portions of a flexible tension element on which the fastener is to be carried to pass through the orifice without either portion being supported on the other. For use a slackened medial portion of the tension element is folded upon itself to form a loop, the loop end is passed through the first ring, over and about the second ring and about the neck so that the tension element is fastened about the fastener without an end of the tension element having been passed through any fastener orifice.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] A design patent application relating to the subject matter hereof is being filed in the United States Patent Office contemporaneously herewith.

[0002] There are no other applications related hereto now filed in this or any foreign country.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of Invention

[0004] This invention relates generally to a fastener for attachment on an elongate flexible tension element and more particularly to such a fastener that can be interconnected on the tension element without passing an end of the tension element through an orifice defined in the fastener.

[0005] 2. Background and Description of Prior Art

[0006] It is often desirable in the hoisting and rigging arts generally and in animal husbandry to have a fastener that may be placed on an elongate flexible tension element such as a rope or cable in removable interconnection therewith, especially if the interconnection can be accomplished without passing an end of the tension element through an orifice defined in the fastener. Responsive to this desire various connectors have been developed either specifically for directly satisfying the desire or primarily for other purposes, but yet providing a structure that could secondarily satisfy this desire. Though the history of such fasteners is long and such fasteners have become quite sophisticated through their history, there still remain problems which the instant invention seeks to resolve or alleviate.

[0007] Most such known fasteners may be divided into a first class that provides structures that at least partially define one or more orifices at least one of which has an incompletely defined peripheral element with a channel communicating through the peripheral element to allow passage of a tension element to carry the fastener through the channel and into the communicating orifice for fastening and a second class having one or more adjacent, structurally interconnected annular elements, often of varying peripheral configurations, completely defining the peripheries of all orifices.

[0008] The first class of fasteners has often not proven to be secure and reliable as, depending upon the motion, structure and positional relationship of the elements, the fasteners may become disengaged from a flexible tension element carrying them by the tension element passing outwardly back through the channel used to create the fastenable joinder in the first instance. With the passage of time and as this first class of fastener structures became more sophisticated, one branch of development increased the amount of the removed periphery of an incompletely defined peripheral element to more than half of the periphery so that the remaining periphery comprised only relatively short horn-like elements. This made placement of the fastener on the tension element easier and more simple, but at the same time increased the potentiality for disengagement of the fastener from the carrying tension element.

[0009] The second class of fastening devices has provided fasteners defining one or more orifices, usually with the periphery of the fastener defining indentations so configured that sophisticated fastening configurations of an elongate tension element could be created extending through orifices and about the peripheral elements defining them without passing an end of a tension element through an orifice. This second class of fasteners generally provided a secure fastening on a tension element but many of its members were more complex of use, required more knowledge and familiarity for use and were more time consuming in use. Most of this class of fasteners allowed, and some required, various portions of a carrying flexible tension element to be adjacent to each other and often supported on each other, as opposed to being supported entirely by and on the fastener, which increased wear on the tension element and often decreased the strength of the connected portion of the tension element.

[0010] With passage of time two subclasses of the second class of fasteners developed a first sub class provided two or more adjacent orifices each having completely defined peripheries with some fastening means that directly fastened a flexible tension element after an end of that element had been passed through one or more of the fastener orifices, a second sub class provided a tension element that was folded back upon itself and passed back through an orifice that it had already once passed through, such as in the case of a belt buckle or a garter strap. This second sub-class of the fastener was used more with flat strap-like tension elements than with round rope type tension elements by reason of the difficulty and complexity of use with tension elements having round cross sections.

[0011] The instant fastener resolves or alleviates problems associated with these known fasteners by providing an at least semi-rigid, configurationally sustaining elongate ring interconnected with an adjacent circular ring in the same unitary physical structure by a relatively short neck having a length at least substantially as great as the maximum cross sectional dimension of a flexible tension element that is to carry the fastener element. This structure allows a flexible tension element to be supported entirely on the fastener structure without any portion of the tension element being supported by some other portion of the tension element to provide greater durability and strength. The structure also allows simple and easy installation of the fastener in a flexible tension element by merely forming a loop in a slack medial portion of the tension element, passing the loop through the elongate slot, over the circular ring and fastening it about the neck, where the looped tension element is maintained so long as there is appropriate tension in the tension element. The tension element cannot pass away from the neck by reason of the larger ring structures at both ends of the neck.

[0012] The fastening element preferably is formed of some rigid material that is configurationally sustaining, but it may also be formed from non-rigid material that is not completely configurationally sustaining and remain functional, though probably not so easily or efficiently so. The fastener is particularly designed for use with rope having more or less circular cross-section, but with appropriate configuration the fastener may be used with band-like tension elements of fairly elongate rectilinear cross-section.

[0013] My invention resides not in any one of these features individually but rather in the synergistic combination of all of the structures that necessarily give rise to the functions flowing therefrom, as herein specified and claimed.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0014] My invention generally provides a first elongate ring interconnected to a second circular ring by a relatively short neck. The orifice defined in the first ring is sized and configured to receive two portions of a flexible tension element passing therethrough without either tension element portion being supported by the other and the neck is sized and configured to receive a portion of the tension element fastenably thereabout to positionally maintain that portion by reason of the two rings at either end of the neck.

[0015] The fastener may be configured to fasten upon a flexible tension element of a rope-like nature of substantially round cross-section or of a band or strap-like nature of rectilinear cross-section. The fastener preferably is formed of material sufficiently rigid to be configurationally sustaining in use, but is operative if formed from flexible material that is not completely configurationally sustaining.

[0016] For use the fastener is releaseably positioned on the medial portion of an elongate tension element by creating a loop in a slack portion of the tension element, passing the loop through the elongate orifice in the elongate ring and then over and about the second ring and tightening the loop about the neck extending between the rings to create a fastening configuration in the flexible tension element about the fastener that is releaseable and allows the fastener to be moved along the tension element. The second ring defines an orifice to allow attachment of some other structure such as an animal tether or fastener of another object to the elongate flexible tension element.

[0017] In providing such a structure it is:

[0018] A principal object to provide a fastener that may be releaseably fastened in an elongate flexible tension element without passing an end of the tension element through any orifice defined in the fastener.

[0019] A further object is to provide such a fastener that is formed by two rings interconnected by a neck with at least one first ring configured to receive two courses of the flexible tension element through the orifice defined therein with both courses of the tension element supported on the fastener and neither course supporting the other.

[0020] A further object is to provide such a fastener that may be fastened on a medial slack portion of an elongate flexible tension element by forming a loop in the tension element, passing the loop through the orifice in the at least one first ring, over the second ring and about the neck interconnecting the two rings for movable and removable positional maintenance on the tension element.

[0021] A still further object is to provide such a fastener that is of new and novel design, of rugged and durable nature, of simple and economic manufacture, and is otherwise well suited to the uses and purposes for which it is intended.

[0022] Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. In carrying out the objects of the invention however, it is to be remembered that its accidental features are susceptible of change in design and structural arrangement with only one preferred and practical embodiment being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specified, as is required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] In the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein like numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout:

[0024]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of my fastener with a portion of a flexible tension element, shown in a dashed phantom outline, fastened thereabout to interconnect the fastener.

[0025]FIG. 2 is an elongately medial vertical cross-sectional view through the fastener of FIG. 1, taken on the lines 2-2 thereon in the direction indicated by the arrows.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the elongate upper ring of the fastener of FIG. 1, taken on the lines 3-3 thereon in the direction indicated by the arrows.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the lower circular ring of the fastener of FIG. 1, taken on the lines 4-4 thereon in the direction indicated by the arrows.

[0028]FIG. 5 is a laterally medial vertical cross-sectional view through the fastener of FIG. 1, taken on the lines 5-5 thereon in the direction indicated by the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] My fastener generally provides first elongate ring 10 structurally interconnected by neck 11 to second circular ring 12 for releaseable fastening on elongate flexible tension element 13.

[0030] First elongate ring 10 is formed by peripheral element 14 having a general rectilinear cross-section with rounded corners and geometrically configured as two spaced coplanar semicircular end portions 14 a at the opposed ends joined by straight medial portions 14 b of a similar cross-sectional configuration. The first elongate ring preferably is sized relative to flexible tension element 13 that is to carry the fastener, so that the inner radius of each semicircular end 14 a is as long as the larger cross sectional dimension of a flexible tension element to carry the fastener, to assure that two portions of the flexible element may fit within the orifice 15 defined by the ring without either portion being supported on the other.

[0031] Second ring 12 is formed by peripheral element 16, in the instance illustrated of a circular configuration. The peripheral element preferably has a cross-sectional configuration similar to that of the first elongate ring 10, comprising a rectangle with rounded corners on radially inner and outer side edges to prevent damage to and lessen wear upon a flexible tension element carrying the fastener. This second ring defines internal orifice 17 preferably having an internal radius at least as great as the major cross sectional dimension of the flexible tension element 13 to carry the fastener, to allow a looped portion of the tension element to be passed through orifice 17 and supported therein without any portion of any tension element supporting the other portion and provide a ring large enough to positionally maintain the tension element on the neck 11.

[0032] The first elongate ring 10 is structurally joined to the second round ring 12 by neck 11 providing linear beam-like element 18 extending therebetween. Neck beam-like element 18 is preferably of a rectilinear cross section as illustrated with thickness in an elongate direction between front 18 a and back 18 b substantially equal to the thickness, in the same direction, of first and second rings 10, 12 and a width extending between lateral surfaces 19 somewhat the same as a width of the first and second rings, but in any event less than the greatest lateral extent of either ring to allow tension element 13 positionally maintained to be looped thereabout. The lateral edges of neck beam-like element 18 are rounded and the edges joining the neck beam to both first elongate ring 10 and second circular ring 12 are filtered to provide smooth curvilinear joining portions between the neck element and the two rings to avoid damage and excessive wear on the flexible tension element on which the fastener is carried.

[0033] In the instance illustrated, the first and second rings are each planar elements joined in a coplanar relationship. This configuration provides one that is of simple and easy manufacture and use, though the configuration is not essential to the operability of my fastener and the first and second rings need not be planar and need not be coplanar nor relative to each other. The first and second rings may be non-planar and may be angulated relative to each other about a line extending perpendicularly between the medial portions of the rings so long as the neck 11 does not project further outwardly from that line than the projection of the outer surfaces of either ring from that line. Neither the first nor second rings need to be of any particular shape nor do they need to define a closed ring in their distal surfaces for the fastener to be operative so long as the immediate aforesaid requirement relative to the neck is met. The configuration illustrated, however, is probably the most simple and convenient of operation. Other configurations of the ring elements and the spatial relationship of those elements that fulfill the specified requirements are within the ambit and scope of my invention.

[0034] My fastener preferably is formed as a unitary structure from some material that is rigid enough to be configurationally sustaining under the loads and conditions of use of the fasteners, such as a metal or a harder, more dense polymeric or resinous plastic. Such materials are not necessary however, and the fastener is operative when formed of soft or flexible non-configurationally sustaining materials such as leather, fiber belting, resiliently deformable plastic and the like, so long as it has some retentive memory. Fasteners formed of such materials may not be so efficient and easy of use as more rigid fasteners, though they are within the ambit and scope of my invention.

[0035] Other modifications of the fastener may be made to accommodate particular conditions of use and various flexible tension elements, so long as the essential relationships, configurations and dimensions of the modified fasteners comply with the requirements specified. Configurations and dimensions of the first and second rings are not essential to the operation of the fastener so long as both rings have an extension laterally beyond both sides of the outer surfaces of neck 11 at least as great as approximately the greatest dimension of the cross section of a flexible tension element which is to carry the fastener, so that that tension member may be fastenably interconnected about the neck and prevented from moving in either direction from the neck ends by the two interconnected rings. The configuration illustrated therefore is not intended to be limiting, but merely is illustrative of a configuration that has been found to be convenient to manufacture, simply operative, durable and maintenance free.

[0036] If a resiliently deformable fastener that is not configurationally sustaining is to be used, it should have a first ring through which a loop of a flexible tension element may be passed that has an orifice of a size as great as that required for the passage of the portions of the flexible tension element therethrough and not substantially larger, so that when the tension element is positioned therein and it cannot easily or readily pull the neck and second ring through the orifice of the first ring to release the fastener, because the bulk of materials that would have to pass through the orifice defined in the first ring and would prevent the passage. Non-configurationally sustaining fasteners are operative, though not so efficiently or desirably so as more rigid fasteners.

[0037] Having described the structure of my fastener, its operation may be understood with reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings.

[0038] The fastener may be used and is operative with various flexible tension elements, and the illustration of its use with a rope-like element of round cross-sectional shape is illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. The fastener generally may by used with flexible straps or bands of rectilinear cross-section, with linked chains and with most elongate flexible tension elements of other known types.

[0039] For use a medial portion of flexible tension element 13, is arranged with the ends of the tension element positioned so as to have some slack in the medial portion where the fastener is to be attached. A loop 20 is formed in the tension element by folding a portion of that element upon itself and the outer end portion 20 a of that loop is inserted through orifice 15 defined in first ring 10. The looped end portion 20 a is moved for some distance though the first ring so that the loop 20 may be placed over second ring 12. The loop then is tightened so that the looped end portion 20 a about neck 11 in the position illustrated in FIG. 1. Some tension then is created and maintained in the flexible tension element 13 to maintain the fastener in a fastened positioned with second ring 12 extending therefrom to allow attachment of some object such as a fastener, tether or the like thereto to be supported ultimately on the flexible tension element.

[0040] It is not necessary that the flexible tension element 13 be maintained with any particular tension in it to maintain the fastener thereon, but the probability of the fastener's being accidently released from the tension element varies inversely with the amount of tension maintained in that tension element. The fastener will remain engaged on the tension element because the loop in the tension element can not move over either end of neck 11 because of the larger rings at each end of the neck. If tension in the tension element is decreased sufficiently, loop 20 may be enlarged sufficiently so as to pass back over the second ring, in the opposite direction to that from which it was originally fastenably positioned, to release the fastener from the tension element.

[0041] The fastening of a flexible non-configurationally sustaining fastener in a flexible tension element is substantially the same as for a rigid fastener and in general is fairly operative. Once a non-rigid fastener is placed in fastened condition, it is possible that looped end 20 a might pull the second ring 12, and possibly a portion of neck 11, back through orifice 15 defined in the first ring 10 to cause release of the tension element, but if the element is formed in compliance with the foregoing specification the bulk of this material and its flexible deformability will normally prevent such happening as the material to be pulled back through orifice 15 will be larger than that orifice so long as the material forming the first ring is not elastically deformable to substantially enlarge orifice 15.

[0042] If the fastener is established on flexible tension element 13 it may be released from interconnection with that element by creating slack in the tension element and moving loop 20 back over second ring 12 and back through orifice 15 of first ring 10 to release the fastener from the tension element by such manipulation that is the opposite of that which originally established the looped tension element fastened relationship.

[0043] It is to be noted that somewhat less slack may be created in the flexible tension element 13 and this will allow the fastener to be moved linearly along the tension element by changing the location of loop 20 therein while still maintaining the loop in a fastened condition on the fastener.

[0044] The foregoing description of my fastener is necessarily of a detailed nature so that a specific embodiment of it might be set forth as required, but it is to be understood that various modifications of detail, rearrangement and multiplication of elements might be resorted to without departing from its spirit, essence or scope.

[0045] Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect by Letters Patent, and 

What I claim is:
 1. A fastener for releaseable fastening on an elongate flexible tension element, having a longest and a shortest cross-sectional dimension, without passing an end of the tension element through any orifice defined in the fastener, comprising in combination: a first ring defining a first orifice and interconnected by a neck having opposed lateral surfaces with a second ring defining a second orifice, said first and second rings each extending laterally spacedly beyond each lateral surface of the neck and said first orifice having a longest dimension at least greater than twice the longest dimension at least of a cross-section of the tension element and a shortest dimension as long as the shortest cross-section of the tension element.
 2. A fastener for releaseable fastening on an elongate flexible tension element, having a longest and a shortest cross-sectional dimension, without passing an end of the tension element through any orifice defined in the fastener, comprising in combination; a first ring having a peripheral element defining a first medial orifice having a longest dimension at least greater than twice the longest cross-sectional dimension of the tension element and a shortest dimension at least as long as the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the tension element; a second ring having a peripheral element defining a second orifice having a longest dimension at least as long as the longer dimension of the cross-section of the flexible tension element; and a neck interconnecting the peripheral elements of the first ring and the second ring, said neck having a length at least as great as the longest cross-sectional dimension of the tension member.
 3. The fastener of claim 2 wherein the first and second rings comprise flat planar elements.
 4. The fastener of claim 3 wherein the first and second rings are interconnected in coplanar relationship.
 5. The fastener of claim 2 further characterized by: the peripheral elements forming the first and second rings and the neck having similar cross-sectional configurations; and the edges of the peripheral elements and the neck being rounded to lessen damage to the tension element carrying the fastener.
 6. The fastener of claim 2 further characterized by: the first ring having an elongate configuration defined by a peripheral element having a substantially rectilinear cross-section with rounded corners; and the first orifice having similar curvilinear end portions interconnected by linear portions with a longest dimension between proximal surfaces of the curvilinear end portions greater than twice the longest cross-sectional dimension of the flexible tension element and a shortest dimension between proximal surfaces of linear portions greater than the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the flexible tension element.
 7. The process of releaseably fastening the fastener of claim 2 on an elongate flexible tension element comprising the steps of forming a loop in a slackened medial portion of the tension member; passing the loop through the first orifice defined in the first ring of the fastener; passing the loop over the second ring of the fastener and about the neck interconnecting the first ring and the second ring to releaseably fasten the fastener on the tension element. 